William George (W.G.) Archer

Born, 1907. Died, 1979

W. G. (William George) Archer and his wife Mildred Archer were experts on Indian poetry, culture and art. He was born in 1907 and worked for the Indian Civil Service, from 1931 until about the time of Indian Independence in 1947. He was, subsequently, Keeper, Indian Section, Victoria and Albert Museum 1949- 59; and his wife Dr Mildred Agnes Archer (1911- 2005) was Curator, Prints and Drawings Section, India Office Library 1954-80. W G Archer died in 1979.

W. G. Archer was responsible for an important feature on Avinash Chandra that appeared in The Studio magazine, Vol. 161, No. 813, January 1961. [Avinash Chandra: painter from India, pages 4 - 7]. Mr and Mrs W. G. Archer owned a painting by Chandra (Seven moons, 1961, oil on board, 48 x 72 in.) reproduced in the catalogue ‘Avinash Chandra’, from a solo exhibition by the artist, held at the Rose Fried Gallery, then located at 40 East 68th Street, New York. The exhibition’s dates were 22 October - 20 November 1968. The exhibition’s catalogue featured a selection of work made between 1959 and 1968, including a work from the collection of Tate Gallery, Hills of Gold, 1966, 40 x 95 inches.